Carbon-holder for electric headlights.



A. HUNSICKER.

CARBON HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 9,1915.

Patented June 20, 1916.

PLANOURAPH C AMANDES I-IUNSICKER, OF EL RENO, OKLAHOMA.

CARBON-HOLDER FOB. ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed. June 9, 1915. Serial No. 33,157.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AMAivnns HUNsIoKnn, citizen of the United States, residing at El Reno, Canadian county, and State of Oklahoma, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Carbon-Holders for Electric Headlights, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to carbon holders for are lamps and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

WVith locomotive headlights it is the usual custom, before proceeding on a long run, to ascertain the length of the carbon electrode, and if it be about half or less of its original size, it is discarded and replaced by a new carbon of full length, on the theory that the loss entailed is slight as compared to the inconvenience and delay that would be required to replace the consumed carbon while on route.

It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a carbon holder adapted to receive one or more carbons and feed the same to the lower electrode in a manner insuring the complete consumption of each, and wherein the burned-out carbon will be instantly replaced without any appreciable break in the continuance of the are.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational View thereof, Fig. 2 a detail. perspective View of the carbon holder, and Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the construction in further detail, and wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different views, 1 designates a bar having a screw-threaded and projecting arm 2 adapted for securing the same within the headlight casing, and at its lower end said bar has a lateral and apertured extension adapted to receive the consuming end of the carbon C.

p The carbon holder per .96 comprises a tube 1 substantially co-extensive in length with the rod 1, and open at either end to permit of through passage of the carbon. Said tube is mounted to have sliding movement on the rod 1 by means of a pair of lugs 5 near its upper end that engage with the reduced side portions 6 running lengthwise of the red. A socket piece 7 at the upper end of the tube is adapted to fit over the end of the rod after the manner shown in Fig. 1, and in which position the portion 8 serves as a stop or abutment and supports the tube in position. The side members 9 of the socket piece serve as lateral sustaining elements, and a leaf-spring 10 secured to the tube has its free end fitting within the recess of the socket to engage with the face of the rod 1 and provide a contact.

A pair of lugs 11 are mounted on the tube at its lower end and engage with the side portions 6 of the rod 1, after the manner of the upper pair of lugs 5. And both pairs of lugs, 5 and 11, with the end stop 8, hold the tube rigid with respect to the support and maintain the carbon in proper alinement for forming the are with the lower electrode. A pair of registering apertures 12 are formed in the tube adjacent the lower end and serve to receive a pin, or the like, for temporarily holding the carbon Within the tube when filing or otherwise adjusting the lower electrode.

The means for automatically feeding the carbon through the action of the usual solenoid, or other magnet, comprises a clutch 13 loosely connected to the lower end of the rod 1% and fulcrumed on the lower end of the supporting bar 1, as at 15. The rod 1 L is connected to be'actuated from the armature of themagnet by an arm 16 that is slidably mounted on a screw or stud 17 secured to the arm 18 of the supporting rod 1. The carbon feeding device may be of any suitable form and no claim thereto is made in the present instance.

In operation, the carbon is conveniently applied to the tube by inserting through the upper end thereof, and when partially consumed, a second carbon may be inserted in like manner, and when the preceding carbon is totally consumed, the latter will follow and establish the are without any appreciable break in its continuance. It will therefore be seen that this device will save considerable time and avoid the present waste of the carbons.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A carbon holder for electric headlights comprising a relatively long supporting bar, an open-ended tube substantially co-extensive in length with said bar adapted to receive one or more carbons, said tube having upper and lower lugs for engaging said supporting bar and mounting the same slidably thereon, said tube being formed with a projecting portion at its upper end arranged to engage the upper end of the supporting bar and limit the downward slid ing movement of said tube thereon, a resilient friction shoe secured to said tube and bearing against said supporting bar, and a carbon feeding device mounted on said supporting bar, substantially as set forth.

2. A carbon holder for electric headlights comprising a supporting bar, an open ended tube adapted to receive one or more carbons and having upper and lower pairs of lugs slidably mounting the tube on said supporting bar, said tube having a socket piece at its upper end adapted to receive the end of said bar and limit the sliding movement of the tube thereon, and a carbon feeding device mounted on said supporting bar, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, this second day of June, A. D. nineteen hundred and fifteen.

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, E. S. CLEMENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. c." 

